NASA pledges better oversight

Reports of drunk astronauts unconfirmed

Reports of drunk astronauts unconfirmed

August 30, 2007|By Mark K. Matthews, The Orlando Sentinel

WASHINGTON - NASA investigators said Wednesday that they could not confirm reports of heavy drinking by an astronaut on a launch day - despite an earlier report that identified "heavy use of alcohol" before two flights. "I was unable to verify any case in which an astronaut spaceflight crewmember was impaired on launch day" or any case where a manager disregarded warnings from another NASA employee that an astronaut not fly, said Bryan O'Connor, NASA's Chief of Safety and Mission Assurance. However, O'Connor said NASA doctors should play a stronger "oversight" role on launch day, accompanying astronauts as they suit up for launch. He also recommended that excessive drinking be added to NASA's list of forbidden pre-launch activities and that the agency consider testing all its employees for alcohol as well as drug use. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin pledged changes, including a revamping of NASA's mental-health screening and counseling. But he compared the reports of the drinking incidents to "urban legend" such as the annual scares about dangerous Halloween candy. O'Connor reviewed 20 years of space missions and interviewed 90 NASA officials, astronauts and flight surgeons. The House Committee on Science and Technology has asked Griffin to testify about the report on Sept. 6.